COVID and the housing market

[mimico_polak]

My wife and I have been applying to jobs as far as Edmonton recently. We're just thinking about the basics now: affordable housing, secure employment with fair wages, decent schools in the area, reasonably low crime rate, enough space to start a family. We're willing to sacrifice on the nice things like warmer weather, proximity to family/friends, access to different cuisines, track days just to get on with our lives.

That's unfortunate that you have to go all that way. Although I've met some people in Edmonton, and they all love it.

Although the Calgarians do prefer their city, but you're also closer to the mountains.

Good luck!

 

[Mad Mike]

My wife and I have been applying to jobs as far as Edmonton recently. We're just thinking about the basics now: affordable housing, secure employment with fair wages, decent schools in the area, reasonably low crime rate, enough space to start a family. We're willing to sacrifice on the nice things like warmer weather, proximity to family/friends, access to different cuisines, track days just to get on with our lives.

Have you considered Northern Ontario? Sudbury, North Bay, all have stable booming economies, excellent health care facilities, good schools and very affordable housing. 4 hours to Toronto or Ottawa by car.

In Ontario you also get 2 months less winter than Edmonton!

 

[bastak]

Although I've met some people in Edmonton, and they all love it.

I sat next to a University of Alberta professor on a flight almost a decade ago now and she couldn't say enough great things about Edmonton. Wasn't even on my radar at the time and I felt she went a bit overboard in her praise. All I could think of was how cold it must be over there in winter lol.

 

[bastak]

Have you considered Northern Ontario?

Yes and actually did a stint up there in White River on a hydro project. It's definitely an option, but most of our experience has been on public transit projects (subways, LRTs) and not much happening on that end - hard to get an interview - been applying in Ottawa as well. Edmonton has a 5-6 year LRT line that started construction this year so fingers crossed...

 

[mimico_polak]

Yes and actually did a stint up there in White River on a hydro project. It's definitely an option, but most of our experience has been on public transit projects (subways, LRTs) and not much happening on that end - hard to get an interview - been applying in Ottawa as well. Edmonton has a 5-6 year LRT line that started construction this year so fingers crossed...

This is literally all I do in the GTA and been in the business for 14 years in one capacity or another.

Toronto is BOOMING for subway / LRT work right now. You've got 4 behemoth projects firing up in the City of Toronto right now... Like crazy bananas busy. I see all the consultants looking for workers right now as there's so many people moving around. We are going to be short of experienced people very shortly.

Reach out if you'd like and we can chat. I can't promise anything but maybe can help out.

 

[Mad Mike]

...fixed income renters would be driven to Porcupine to try to survive as they are still stuck at the pre-inflation income. ..

If they were smart, that's what they would do.

I was at a 'camp' in that area this summer. A young fellow, about 22, started as a mine laborer in Porcupine. His starting wage was $24/hr + mine bonus. After a year he was operating a shaft elevator for $26/hour + bonus. His mine bonus averages $12/hour, so for unskilled work he was pulling in $38/hr + full pension and benefits. Labor shortages allowed him to work up to 50hrs a week (and did) -- the kid pulled in $1500 gross each week.

Not too shabby for unskilled work.

Now look at the price of a house:

Scarborough: $1 million dollars Check out this listing

Timmins: $219,000 Check out this listing

Timmins $1 Million dollars Check out this listing

Toronto: $11 million dollars Check out this listing

 

[bastak]

Reach out if you'd like and we can chat. I can't promise anything but maybe can help out.

Thanks, really appreciate the kindness and willingness to help. We're both employed and really happy with our jobs in Toronto (reference was to lack of transit projects in Northern Ontario as an alternative location). We'd actually be walking distance from the Ontario Line construction once it starts up - love the idea of that, but as we're past our mid-30s now, we'd like to start a family sooner rather than later, and downtown Toronto isn't so appealing. We're blessed, no doubt, to be involved in a booming industry here.

We're thinking more in the context of ratio of home prices to household income. The money here is good, and we're in demand, but we could take a substantial paycut and live in a more affordable city, comfortably own a house, shorter commute, good neighbourhood school and still come out on top financially as a household. That's the appeal of looking elsewhere right now.

Mind you, I also really hate the thought of leaving the LRT work in Toronto knowing that there is a severe lack of experienced professionals/workers on the market these days...

 

[mimico_polak]

Fully understandable @bastak. Hamilton got the green light for their new LRT, and Hurontario is building theirs also. Actually I’d prefer either of those or ECWE because the commute would be much closer for me.

Also tons of work in BC right now. Calgary (or Edmonton as I can’t remember) just finished up their work on their LRT recently. I’m also pretty sure Montreal had some major construction starting (or already underway) in public transit.

Good luck in your decision. I’m sure it’s a tough one.

 

[nobbie48]

I think what we are seeing is just new to us -- in many parts of the world people live where they can afford to live. In Canada, the big urban centers have always been relatively affordable, that's changing and there may be no way to stop it.

Thinks about it for a second - most of us can't live in Forest Hill, High Park, Cabbagetown neighbourhoods -- we live where we can afford it. That may be close to those areas, or it might be Scarborough, North York, Cambridge, Oshawa... I'd love to have my house in a downtown TO hood, but it would be 5x the price it is in Markham -- so I live in Markham.

Recently the entire GTA has been priced out of range for many. Do residents have a right to live in the GTA? Or is it reasonable to expect them to relocate to affordable locales... say Peterborough, Kingston, Windsor or any other area in Canada where employment is available and their income fits the cost of accommodation.

I have one kid who did that. He makes great money on a small Northern Ontario city where a really nice house costs 1/4th of that it would be in the GTA. He's 26 and was saving for a house in the GTA, after moving he used his savings to buy a house cash. No rent, no mortgage - instead he spends that money on toys.

Along time ago I was dating a chick and we took a day trip through the Muskokas. She said it was nice but she preferred having big buildings around her. The relationship didn't go far. A lot of people are afraid of the move. What if syndrome.

 

[mimico_polak]

Along time ago I was dating a chick and we took a day trip through the Muskokas. She said it was nice but she preferred having big buildings around her. The relationship didn't go far. A lot of people are afraid of the move. What if syndrome.

The ‘what if’ syndrome is a valid concern. I know I overthink choices like job changes non stop.

However, I still do take chances and out of my circle of friends I’ve changed jobs the most often and houses also.

Weigh the pros and cons…take a chance and it could work out…or it might not.

 

[Mad Mike]

Along time ago I was dating a chick and we took a day trip through the Muskokas. She said it was nice but she preferred having big buildings around her. The relationship didn't go far. A lot of people are afraid of the move. What if syndrome.

I think you have to get to know an area before your mind gets settled on it.

I remember looking at Holland Landing when buying my first house. At the time all I saw was a community of ramshackle houses, beaten up pickups and a whole lot of rubber-booted, red-checker jacketed hicks --- not for me. My sis bought in the area, I spent some time there, then bought a lot down the street from her. It was fine.

Same thing again recently. One of my kids moved way up north to a city I'd never have considered for visiting or living. After spending a few weeks getting to know the city and area, I determined I could live happily there. If I didn't have elderly parents to care for I'd seriously consider moving --- sell here, get retired, buy a nice house with a 10 car garage and spend winters in the tropics.

 

[nobbie48]

If they were smart, that's what they would do.

I was at a 'camp' in that area this summer. A young fellow, about 22, started as a mine laborer in Porcupine. His starting wage was $24/hr + mine bonus. After a year he was operating a shaft elevator for $26/hour + bonus. His mine bonus averages $12/hour, so for unskilled work he was pulling in $38/hr + full pension and benefits. Labor shortages allowed him to work up to 50hrs a week (and did) -- the kid pulled in $1500 gross each week.

Not too shabby for unskilled work.

Now look at the price of a house:

Scarborough: $1 million dollars Check out this listing

Timmins: $219,000 Check out this listing

Timmins $1 Million dollars Check out this listing

Toronto: $11 million dollars Check out this listing

I've posted before about as a kid in Toronto living in a $15,000 house when a guy made $5000 a week. Three year gross salary would pay for a house.

That Timmins bungalow is right on those numbers.

But it's so cold.... I spent my first 7-8 years of life in Manitoba and when they cancelled school because of a blizzard we asked if we could go outside to play. It's what you get used to.

I know some people that moved to Yellowknife and once they got used to it, don't want to come back. Apparently the trick is to not go back to your original home for two years. Running back keeps your mind dependent on the past.

A fifteen hundred square foot home with city water and sewers is just as comfortable whether it's $1.5 million in Toronto or $500,00 in a small town. You aren't slumming. A well and septic system isn't the end of the world either.

 

[Mad Mike]

I've posted before about as a kid in Toronto living in a $15,000 house when a guy made $5000 a week. Three year gross salary would pay for a house.

That Timmins bungalow is right on those numbers.

But it's so cold.... I spent my first 7-8 years of life in Manitoba and when they cancelled school because of a blizzard we asked if we could go outside to play. It's what you get used to.

I know some people that moved to Yellowknife and once they got used to it, don't want to come back. Apparently the trick is to not go back to your original home for two years. Running back keeps your mind dependent on the past.

A fifteen hundred square foot home with city water and sewers is just as comfortable whether it's $1.5 million in Toronto or $500,00 in a small town. You aren't slumming. A well and septic system isn't the end of the world either.

Northern Ontario IS VERY COLD in the winter, Timmins is colder than Ft Mac.

But there is a big difference, in that winter starts a month earlier and ends a month later out west AND the daylight hours are much longer in Ontatio during the winter, so even though lows and highs are similar, the west spends fewer hours at the hi, and more hours at the low.

 

[ifiddles]

for all you guys that are into watches here...this just came up on my Facebook feed about a local Miltonian starting up his own line...I know nothing about watches, so no clue whether these are any good or not...there's a link at the bottom of the story to his line, just thought it was nice that it's a local entrepreneur...

Milton watchmaker unveils second piece in local line

The seconds keep on ticking on Colin Potts' second wristwatch. He's the first Miltonian to bring an original w...

www.miltonnow.ca

 

[GreyGhost]

for all you guys that are into watches here...this just came up on my Facebook feed about a local Miltonian starting up his own line...I know nothing about watches, so no clue whether these are any good or not...there's a link at the bottom of the story to his line, just thought it was nice that it's a local entrepreneur...

Milton watchmaker unveils second piece in local line

The seconds keep on ticking on Colin Potts' second wristwatch. He's the first Miltonian to bring an original w...

www.miltonnow.ca

That's some grade A bs in that article. Think of watches in that class like the Franklin Mint collectibles of the past. The highest price anyone will ever pay is the first buyer and often the MSRP is far higher than the transaction price. They will be worth almost nothing used. increasing msrp says nothing about the value of the watch.

I'm glad he's trying and I hope some people buy his fashion accessories but I expect very very few watch people will. Especially when the design is far too close to an AP.

EDIT:
One of these is $450, one is >100K. It's not flattery if you are trying too hard to look like the real thing. There are some differences, but the essential concept is far too close for me. It's like he started with a model of the real thing and eliminated the expensive fiddly bits and pretended it was something new.

 

[crankcall]

I did see the nod to AP , it’s a Mitoya Japanese movement , which is ok , but then make many and this one is not tbe high end , $200 anywhere .
I’d like to see any watch , even tbe 1900 jewler, I’m guessing rebranded Kitchener or Hamilton or oshawa . Nobody made , or is making a watch in Milton
John challinor is a small town politician and a terrible journalist.



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[GreyGhost]

I did see the nod to AP , it’s a Mitoya Japanese movement , which is ok , but then make many and this one is not tbe high end


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I have no problem with Miyota's but get annoyed with aliexpress parts bin "luxury watches" where they put a japanese movement for a whiff of authenticity. On the upside, it often makes it easy for laypeople to tell fashion watches from good watches. If the movement is just listed by its country of origin and doesn't include a calibre reference, 99% of the time, you have a fashion watch. The inverse is not always true however.

As with safes, I would want it in my hands before I judged its value for money. You can buy AP knockoffs from China for a lot less money and you can get a Miyota quartz movement for <$10.

 

[Mad Mike]

I did see the nod to AP , it’s a Mitoya Japanese movement , which is ok , but then make many and this one is not tbe high end , $200 anywhere .
I’d like to see any watch , even tbe 1900 jewler, I’m guessing rebranded Kitchener or Hamilton or oshawa . Nobody made , or is making a watch in Milton
John challinor is a small town politician and a terrible journalist.



Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com

My dad ran a pretty big watch company for most of his career, I got to visit design centers and factories, even got to work on a few projects.

To me watches are fashion items, nothing more. A 60s Era Marlin that has never been serviced is more likely to keep time than a Submariner of the same vintage.

Someday I'll go thru the bins of watches at my dad's house, he's probably got a few thousand pieces. From the 60s to the late 90s when he retired. He also kept hundreds of customer letters describing how their watch "takes a licking and keeps on ticking".

 

[Lightcycle]

I stopped wearing watches in high school.

Makes even less sense these days when we're always staring at a computer or smartphone with a clock displaying in the corner. As well as the dash in my motorcycle and car. Makes for nice jewelry though. I like this Tissot from this video:

 

[Mad Mike]

I stopped wearing watches in high school.

Makes even less sense these days when we're always staring at a computer or smartphone with a clock displaying in the corner. As well as the dash in my motorcycle and car. Makes for nice jewelry though. I like this Tissot from this video:

I'm with you, a watch is no longer a simple utility timekeeping tool, it's mostly a fashion accessory or wearable tech.